Marvin Borman Memorial Scholarship

MAY 14, 2013—Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand LLP has made a gift to fund the Marvin Borman Memorial Scholarship in honor of their colleague who died September 12, 2012, at age 89. In a Star Tribune obituary, writer James Walsh called Borman "a spirited, committed, roll-up-your sleeves guy."

During World War II Borman was a Marine Corps captain who served in campaigns in Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. After he graduated from Harvard Law School in 1949, he and his wife, Betty, moved back to Minneapolis, where he began working with then-solo practitioner Samuel Maslon. In 1956, Borman, Maslon, and Hy Edelman (’28) created a partnership with a local litigation firm, forming Maslon Kaplan Edelman Joseph & Borman.

From the beginning, Borman and his partners focused on community service and championing the rights of all people. The partnership, now known as Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand LLP, has grown into one of the leading full-service firms in the Twin Cities.

Although an Indiana native and a University of Michigan undergraduate, Borman became a champion of all things Minnesotan. "Marvin cared very much about the community," recalls Doug Holod (’90), chair of Maslon's governance committee. "There are so many organizations where he devoted his time and talents, really improving in gentle ways the quality of life here in the Twin Cities."

In addition to serving 34 years on the board of the United Way, Borman chaired the boards of Mount Sinai Hospital, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the University of Minnesota Foundation. He was president of Temple Israel and a founder and trustee of the Jeremiah Program.

To his colleagues, Borman represented an exemplary life in the law through his impeccable integrity, superb legal skills, and dedicated civic leadership. They hope the Marvin Borman Memorial Scholarship benefits students who understand that with a law degree comes responsibility to serve the community. Holod says, "Whether pro bono services or non-legal community involvement, as with Marvin, there are so many ways to serve."